Pandas deliver Toronto Zoo attendance bump

Da Mao, a four-year-old male panda chews bamboo in front of massive crowds, at the Toronto Zoo during the first day of public viewing for a pair of giant pandas on Saturday, May 18, 2013. (Veronica Henri/Toronto Sun)

The Giant Pandas are giving a boost to the Toronto Zoo’s attendance numbers.

Zoo officials say attendance was up in May — the first month the pandas were out and about for the public to see.

According to an attendance update that went to the zoo board Thursday, there were 188,782 visitors in May — around 10% higher than buegeted and 8.7% higher than in May 2012.

Staff attributed that bump in attendance to the debut of pandas Er Shun and Da Mao over the Victoria Day long weekend.

The holiday weekend saw 56,803 people attend the zoo over the three days — that’s 57.8% higher than the zoo had expected to attend that weekend.

Zoo CEO John Tracogna said the attendance numbers are encouraging so far.

“Those that have been out to see the exhibit, I think you’ll agree that it’s an exciting exhibit,” Tracogna said. “The pandas are exciting to see and also delivering a number of conservation messages ... that we want to deliver.”

While the zoo is hoping the pandas will mate during their stay in Canada, officials aren’t aware of any cubs on the way — yet.

“We’re working on it,” Tracogna said.

Joe Torzsok, zoo board chairman, said he’s happy with the turnout to see the pandas.

“But we can’t rest on our laurels because we still have a bunch of the summer left to go and we have the fall to go,” he said. “We’ve got to keep the push on … but yeah, they’re clearly a big hit with everybody in the region and they’re a big hit with tourists as well who are coming to Toronto to see them.”

The panda pair are expected to spend the next five years at the Toronto Zoo before heading off to Calgary for five years there.

Pandas deliver Toronto Zoo attendance bump

The Giant Pandas are giving a boost to the Toronto Zoo’s attendance numbers.

Zoo officials say attendance was up in May — the first month the pandas were out and about for the public to see.

According to an attendance update that went to the zoo board Thursday, there were 188,782 visitors in May — around 10% higher than buegeted and 8.7% higher than in May 2012.

Staff attributed that bump in attendance to the debut of pandas Er Shun and Da Mao over the Victoria Day long weekend.

The holiday weekend saw 56,803 people attend the zoo over the three days — that’s 57.8% higher than the zoo had expected to attend that weekend.

Zoo CEO John Tracogna said the attendance numbers are encouraging so far.

“Those that have been out to see the exhibit, I think you’ll agree that it’s an exciting exhibit,” Tracogna said. “The pandas are exciting to see and also delivering a number of conservation messages ... that we want to deliver.”